INTRODUCTION. 
xi 
son-in-law Richard Lord Lumley, of Sir John 
Morris, and of Isaac Casaubon, some of the 
volumes in the latter deriving considerable 
value from the MS. notes of the learned pro¬ 
prietor. This library also contains, among 
other most valuable articles, the venerable 
Alexandrian Codex of the Bible, several splem 
did MSS., chiefly biblical and chronicles; and 
among the printed books abundance of old and 
rare editions, many of them being presentation 
copies from their respective authors. 
Mis present Majesty, equally desirous to con- George iii. 
tribute to the enlargement of an institution so C pamphktsf 
useful and ornamental to his dominions, availed 
himself of an opportunity, which presented itself 
soon after his accession, of making a very ample, 
and, in an historical point of view, a most valu¬ 
able addition. A numerous collection of pam¬ 
phlets and periodical papers, published in the 
convulsive interval between the years 1640 and 
1660, after having passed through the hands of 
various persons, some of whom were at times 
obliged to secrete it with uncommon care and 
circumspection, was at length offered for sale in 
the year 1762 ; and His Majesty, being apprized 
of the circumstance, immediately ordered the same 
to be purchased, and to be deposited in the Mu- 
e 2 seum. 
